By OLIVER SAMBOKO
RECONCILE with all aspirants who were not adopted to maintain peace in the party and avoid splitting of votes ahead of the general election, the Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ) has advised the Patriotic Front.
BCZ general secretary Bishop Abel Kaela said the country was looking up to the PF for continued development and therefore cannot afford to see the vote being split between the adopted candidates and those who have decided to contest the election as independents after being left out by the ruling party.
He said the Church was concerned with the high number of non-adopted PF aspiring candidates who have filed nominations as independents for the August election, especially in regions where the now independent candidates have ganged up to campaign under one symbol and ideologue.
Bishop Kaela said it was incumbent upon the PF leadership to quickly call upon all those affected by the results of the adoption process and make peace with them for the sake of unity ahead of the crucial national polls this coming August.
He said failure to reconcile has the potential to give advantage to the opposition as some of the frustrated non adopted candidates and their supporters may decide to support opposition candidates as a way of punishing the ruling party for not adopting them.
“This is the only time the leadership of the ruling party should bring together or individually sit down with all the dedicated aspirant candidates that did not make it on the final adoption list,” he said adding that this way, the ruling party and the aggrieved individuals will be able to cement the relationship.
Bishop Kaela also called on the un adopted PF aspirant candidates that have decided stand as independents to continue campaigning for President Edgar Lungu ahead of the general election.
He said there is need for them to ensure that despite their decision to part ways on account of not being adopted, the ultimate goal is to make sure President Lungu remains in office for the second term.
Eastern province has produced the highest number of independents arising from the PF adoption process, but some of them like Emmanuel Jay Banda and Zindaba Soko of Petauke Central and Chipata Central respectively, have pledged allegiance to President Lungu.
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